Cloud stretched, walking into the kitchen for a drink. He paused wearily in the doorway, seeing Zack at the stove was an unusual sight, and a dangerous one at that.
"What are you doing?" Cloud asked cautiously, noting that there was no one else in the kitchen.
"Waiting for the water to boil…"
"It's just water?"
Zack turned to him, clearly offended by Cloud's lack of faith in him. Cloud just shrugged and remained cautious the whole time he walked near the stove. He grabbed a drink from the fridge and leaned against a counter, figuring someone should be responsible and make sure Zack didn't blow something up. Cloud wasn't an excellent cook, which was usually why Aeris did all the work, but he was sure he knew more than Zack did. Zack had returned to staring at the pot, Cloud felt the urge to point out how watched pots never boiled.
"Shut up," Zack sighed, moving to sit at the table, pouting as he did.
"What are you making anyway?"
"Dunno, Aeris told me to boil water, and she'd be back with the next step."
"So, she's teaching you?"
"Who says I need to be taught?"
"You'd boil C4 if it looked edible."
Zack pouted more, Cloud grinned to himself. Aeris returned to the kitchen, frowning slightly at the sight. She peered into the pot, and then over at Cloud.
"He's not going to blow anything up, you can go now," She pointed to the doorway, Cloud shrugged and walked away.
"Cloud's right about the C4," Aeris remarked offhandedly to Zack, before Cloud had fully left hearing range, causing him to grin yet again.
Cloud was watching TV when Zack hunted him down. Awkwardly Zack waited for Cloud to notice him, Cloud led him on, pretending he wasn't there, until finally Zack got fed up enough to state his purpose.
"Come try my food," He demanded timidly. Cloud glanced over to him, suddenly worried.
If he said no, Zack would pout for weeks and Cloud would be made miserable as a result, if he said yes he would be sick for weeks, and still miserable. Aeris did help him, he reminded himself. Pushing up from the couch to follow Zack back into the kitchen he noticed Zack light up. If he got sick, Zack owed him.
"What…is it?" He asked staring at the plate Aeris forced into his hands.
He noticed Vincent, Tifa, and Yuffie had already been roped into the kitchen. He stared wearily at the food, as he had Zack earlier that day. Aeris glared in response to his question, so he didn't bother expecting an answer. Zack was watching them all eagerly, he wondered if the others had been forewarned.
"Alright," Aeris said. "Try it already."
They all tasted the food cautiously; despite its looks it wasn't terrible. At least it stood for another bite or two. Zack seemed ready to explode from elation, probably because they all hadn't run to spit it out. Cloud sighed and admitted, with help from Aeris, Zack might eventually be able to cook, maybe. He put the plate to the side and stepped over to Zack, who stared into his eyes nervously.
"Well?"
"I'm not dead," Cloud remarked sarcastically. "It's a start I guess."
Zack grinned and leaned in to kiss Cloud. He had to admit, even if cooking never worked out, Zack still would taste as mouth watering as ever. Zack pulled back a few centimeters, and grinned again.
"I'll take that with a grain of salt," Zack murmured to him. "Or maybe a block of C4."